Coasting Britannia

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Folkestone to Dymchurch

It’s 10th October 17 and it’s an early start for myself, Tony Driscoll, Daniel Storey & Jay Hall. We set off from Folkestone Harbour Arm towards the Sandgate Hythe riviera as I affectionately know it. A favorite sea fishing area of mine, but somewhere I haven’t walked much before despite covering most of Kent. Dymchurch is today’s small walking target due to fitting it in around our work.

As we leave Folkestone we soon see one of Folkestone’s real gems, the Leas lift a funicular railway which scales the Leas cliffs. Sadly at this time it is closed due to a lack of funding to carry out essential repairs, but there is hope in finding funds to restore this beauty to its former glory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leas_Lift

The next historic land mark is Sandgate Castle a small artillery fortification on the sea front from the times of Henry Vlll. It was built in 1539-40 to protect our nation from the French and the Holy Roman Empire. This part of Kent has always been considered to be the most vulnerable from attack being so close to the Continent.

After a brief coffee stop on Princes Parade Hythe we continue towards one of the country’s oldest Military shooting ranges. the Hythe Ranges. It operates all year round and the ‘pop pop’ of guns alerted us to the fact that we will be diverting around this feature. You can walk the foreshore at times but you need to look online for when it is safe to do so. If you follow this link it will give you the current months operating times, but it never gives the information too far ahead due to changes. http://www.lyddtc.kentparishes.gov.uk/firing-times-for-hythe-and-lydd-ranges/

We soon return closer to the foreshore and the beach at Dymchurch Wall opens up. Along this section there are several impressive Martello Towers and a chance to visit Mary’s Tea Room at Dymchurch increases our walking stride.

"Please remember I am walking the coast in aid of Demelza Children’s Hospice and any donation no matter how small would be very much appreciated. Please see the Donate link at the top of the home page. Thank you Shaun."